Random Concrete Monkeys!

And then there were 2!!!

2008-08-04T10:26:00.002Z

We paid a visit to the Cats Protection League to find ourselves one little kitten but we fell in love with two! We collect them next saturday and so we now need to make our house cat proof! Picture below of little Akira who is a little boy kitten, we also have a little stripey girl kitten who will be called Talia.

Sad news!

2008-06-26T09:53:00.002Z

I got some very sad news yesterday. The little kitten (Monkey) that we had reserved, passed away yesterday. He was very cute (see pictures below) and had one hell of a personality. We would have loved to have gotten to know him better.

RIP little buddy!

Meet Monkey!

2008-05-27T11:48:00.005Z

Here are pictures of my new kitten. I shall be collecting him in August! I cant wait, he is just too cute! I now declare that he shall be called Monkey!

Birse Ball

2008-01-22T11:44:00.000Z

What a fabulous weekend we have just had. It was our anniversary on Sunday and it fell on the annual dinner held by Birse. It's a black tie event with a 3 course meal, a free bar and a room in a four star hotel. If you scroll back a few pages you will see the photographs of last years ball. This year the theme was James Bond's Casino Royal. We were each given 10 chips to play with. The evening was really good, surrounded by friends and family, all at the expense of the company! It was so nice of them to hold this for our anniversary! (lol)

The above picture is the official photograph provided by the company. We are greeted with a champagne reception and then taken through to be photographed before being seated for the meal. Upon finishing our meal the photographs have all been developed and are laid out for collection.

After that the free bar is open and so everything gets a bit messy from then on but lots of fun was had with sticks of dynamite, hand guns and garters!!! We finally went to bed at around 3 leaving lots of people still partying hard.

We went out for lunch on Sunday with our friends, Aaron and Kisu. Kisu is from Finland and her and Aaron have just gotten engaged. The four of us are off to Ruka in March for a snowboarding holiday! Oh dear! At least there will be plenty of vodka and saunas!

My Bridge

2007-12-10T13:32:00.000Z

Here it is. At last, the bridge that I designed from scratch. It was finaly built and erected on saturday night. What a proud day. They wouldn't let me paint it pink though, which was a shame, it had to be standard Network Rail holly green. There were no problems either, which is good (but also kinda scary). Trains were running over it this morning!

So, this is the first thing that I have designed and built that I can actually share photographs of. Most of my previous work has been on MoD sites and for obvious reasons no photographs were allowed. These photos are of the construction sequence, the whole bridge was constructed in a factory and then slid into place. Exciting stuff!

Life...

2007-11-29T15:46:00.000Z

One of my favourite storys. And oh so true!

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous "yes".

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your God, your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal." Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Maroon 5

2007-11-26T14:49:00.000Z

Well yesterday was my 2nd Birthday this year. My 1st Birthday was back in October, but my Gift from Ben was a meal out at Chicago Rock and then Tickets to see Maroon 5 at Nottingham Ice Arena on the opening night of the tour.

Well, Chicago Rock phoned Ben last week to say that they had ceased trading and so we booked a table at Santa Fe instead. It was delicious. I had sticky beef strips to start served on a potato rosti, yum yum. And then I went for the spice rubbed steak and fries. Of course there were a few cocktails in there too for good measure! Ben's mum and dad came and joined us for the meal too. It was a nice, relaxing meal with good conversation and lots of laughs.

Then me and Ben headed off to the concert and oh my! I am in love with Adam Levine. I mean I was in love with him before but now it is obsession type love. His voice was AMAZING. I can't explain how good it was. The songs on the album do not do his voice justice. every note was crystal clear and he was jumping all over the stage throughout. The band were fantastic too. What an unbelievable show. Even Ben was impressed and he only went along because I liked them! If you get a chance to go see them live, I would seriously recommend it!

I had an amazing night, and I just want to take this opportunity to say a great big thank you to Ben. I love you so much!
xxx

My Friend, Gym

2007-11-22T12:58:00.000Z

Not got much to say but thought I would drop by. I'm just busy working away at my University work. It all has to be handed in on December 14th! I'm also planning an Anne Summers Party as I mentioned before. I'm really looking forward to it. Its been a long time since I've had some close 'girl' friends, never mind a girly night in with them all.

Oh, I joined a gym yesterday too, Fitness First. Its 5 minutes walk from where I work and it costs me absolutely nothing! Yes, thats right. My company have signed up for corporate membership so the only thing I pay for is the tax, and that will be no more than £3 a month! Woo hoo, free gym membership. I probably wont get round to going before christmas, what with all my university work and stuff, but when those new years resolutions kick in i will be ready to go. Plus I have a holiday booked and a wedding in the summer that it would be nice to shed a few pounds and tone up a bit for.

Ah well, back to work I suppose, speak to you soon!
xx

Catch up!

2007-11-14T15:18:00.000Z

Gosh, I can't believe I haven't posted here in so long. I've been up to a lot I can tell you!

First of all doesn't time just fly. It's been over four months since I started my new job and its going along just fine. They are giving me lots of responsibility (project management, site organisation, etc) and they have sent me back to University to complete my Masters in Civil Engineering.

What else has happened? Oh yeah me and Ben moved house. Its gorgeous! its a brand new 3 bedroom town house in Burton upon Trent (a quaint little town that smells like Marmite!). That was 2 and a half months ago now. We are all settled in nicely, just busy getting on with our busy little lives.

As for my social life, well, I have never had it so busy. I've been to another Wedding, I have had nights out in Manchester, trips back up to Hartlepool, days out at Aston Martin Race days, I've done a night shift in a tunnel with a dead dog (don't ask) and lately we have been for a long weekend in Centre Parcs. And as for the lead up to Christmas.....well, what can i say! I'm not sure how i am going to fit it all in, along with completing all my university work! We have a premier to go to, 2 gigs in one week (Pendulum and Maroon 5), then I am hosting an Anne Summers Party!

Well there should be lots of photo opportunities over the next few months! I'll leave you with a pic of me and Ben at Hugh Battery in Hartlepool!

Nicky-Jo and Rich's Wedding

2007-08-15T11:46:00.000Z

Well its been a busy couple of months. Starting with being made redundant, finding a new job in Derby and moving in with my gorgeous boyfriend Ben in Birmingham. It's all going great though. My new job is really good, it's work I am interested in, it's a challange and best of all, I got a big pay rise out of it. Well, you know what they say, every cloud has a silver lining!

Just thought I would share a few pictured of the wedding we went to at the weekend. It Was Nicky-Jo and Richards wedding (Ben's sister). And it was a really beautiful wedding, everyone was relaxed, the sun was shining and everything went according to plan.

This is the happy couple, and what a great couple they make. They are a joy to be around and we are certainly going to miss them. They are due to go to Canada on Sunday for a whole 10 months!!!

Here is a little picture of me and my man! We move house next weekend, to a brand new, 3 bedroomed house which is just gorgeous. We do feel it may be a little posh for us but we will have to start buying Pimms!

Scrapping wise I haven't been too active, what with the move and all but i did manage to get a few things done. This a box I made to be used at the wedding to store cards and things in. It actually has a few trays in it to be used as a jewellery box later on. I have used Blonde Moments paint and Basic Grey Scarlets Letter papers.

Love for Lyndsey!

2007-06-21T08:33:00.000Z

Well, well well! It's been a long time! What can I say? I've just been busy!

I have moved back in with my sister Lyndsey, which is just great! I would never have thought that as a kid we could live together! But then again, I never imagined that my sister would be my best friend. Like most kids we never really got along all the time, and sharing a bedroom was the big cause of most of the arguments. She is 3 years older than me so she of course had all the cool music and make up and everything, but she didn't want me to be touching it!

However after Lyndsey moved away to Manchester to go to University and I moved in with my ex we drifted apart and lived quite seperate lives. Little did we know that after these years apart, growing up, we would get to know each other again and actually really like each other. Now we live together again and we share almost everything, clothes, shoes, everything! We are closer than ever and I hope it never changes! Love you Lynz!

Race for Life!

2007-04-27T09:26:00.000Z

My sister is running the race for life this summer! It is a 5k run and it is in aid of Cancer Research UK. So I am putting this pledge out for people to sponsor her! Please dig deep, it is a very worthy cause. You can donate online through the link below!

Here are some Statistics:

* Breast cancer is the most common cancer in England.
* In 2003 there were around 36,500 new cases diagnosed, representing 32 per cent of all cancers in women and a rate of 120 cases per 100,000 women.
* Four in five new cases are diagnosed in women aged 50 and over, with the peak in the 50 to 64 age group.
* Around 10,500 women died from breast cancer in England in 2003, a rate of 29 deaths per 100,000 women.
* It is the most common cause of cancer death in women.
* One in nine women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives.

The breast screening programme was introduced in 1988 with the aim of reducing the number of women dying from breast cancer. Originally, breast screening was offered every three years to all women aged between 50 and 64, and to women aged 65 and over on request. From 2001, this began to be extended to women in England aged 65 to 70, and to women over 70 on request. Full national coverage for this older age group was achieved by the end of 2004. In 2003-04, three quarters of women aged 50-64 invited for screening in England underwent screening for breast cancer. Over 1.4 million women are screened each year. Incidence rates increased by 80 per cent between 1971 and 2003, and by 16 per cent in the ten years to 2003. Earlier detection and improved treatment has meant that survival rates have risen. Five-year survival was 80 per cent for women diagnosed in 1998-2001 in England. Survival from breast cancer is higher than that for cervical cancer and much higher than for the other major cancers in women - lung, colorectal and ovarian.

Death rates gradually increased up to the mid-1980s and then began to fall around the time that screening started. By 1998 mortality was around 20 per cent lower than it would have been without screening (based on predictions of pre-screening rates in various age groups). Falls occurred in all age groups, but were greatest in women aged 55 to 69.
Source: Office for National Statistics

Home from Holiday!

2007-04-18T15:14:00.000Z

Well I am back. I had an absolutely fabulous time in India. Lots and lots of photographs and tales to share but I need some sleep first! I shall upload some of my photographs tomorrow and share all my fun.

Sunday Stroll!

2007-03-27T11:06:00.000Z

Well what a lovely weekend I have had! The weather was beautiful too. I spent most of the weekend in Birmingham with my boyfriend. We went out to Cannock on Sunday too, he did a bit of downhill mountain biking while I tried to take photographs! Although the camera on my battery kept dying and he moved too fast for me to get a picture. As a result, most of the photographs are of pretty woodland scenary! Here are a few of him jumping:

Whilst we were walking to the woods we came across this sign too, and for some random reason it really made me giggle! But then again, random is as random does!

I aint dead yet!!!

2007-03-26T15:20:00.000Z

Well here I am, it's been a long time I know. A month in fact! Well a lot of things have gone on in my life. I am trying to remember where I left off!!!

First of all I had a phone call from my landlord giving me my 2 month notice period as he had decided to sell the property. Nice I thought! It was kinda poopy because I really got to like the house and also kinda cool as I will get to move to a new house. So there I am thinking of all the things I need to get done, like looking for somewhere to live, packing everything up, applying for a visa, sorting out my holiday stuff, you know, that sort of thing!

So one night I decide to go to bed early and read my book when there is a knock at the door. I ignore it, firstly because I was snuggled up warm in bed, and secondly because I knew the only person that would come to see me would be my sister, and she would ring first. So I lay there, hoping they go away when i hear them try the handle! I start to panic at this point. I get out of bed and creep into the other bedroom where I can see out of the window without whoever was out there seeing me. Now this bit really scared me. There stood at the end of my garden was two guys with hoods. Mt heart started to race. My breathing became shallow. It looked as though they were going to walk away. I stood there watching them for a moment when they turned round and took a flying kick at the front door. I rush back into my bedroom to grab my mobile, turning as many lights on as I can on the way. I phone my brother in law first, the only male i know in Manchester, he says he will be round as soon as possible and that i should stay upstairs and phone the police. I do as he says and get onto the police switchboard. The woman was very good. She kept talking to me while the hooded guys were still trying to kick the door down. At this point I was crying uncontrollably and shaking like never before. I've never been so frightened.

Then it stopped.

And that was worse than the banging. I wasnt sure if they has ran away, or if they had been disturbed or if they were coming to get me a different way! My sister and brother in law turn up 2 minutes later, and the police 1 minute after them. It turns out they were just opportunists in the area and that the police had been called out to a number of similar events like this in the area that night. They recommended that I stay at my sisters that night just in case they did try and come back. There was no way i was staying in that house after that alone anyway. I grabbed a few clothes and my toiletries and headed straight to my sisters for a large stiff drink and to phone my boyfriend.

The next day I phoned my landlord and he said he was going to transfer me as soon as possible to another house as he didnt feel safe having me living there alone. Within a week he moved me to a better location, and to a much better house, sharing with another guy.

So with all the hassle of moving and not sleeping properly I'm afraid I have not been updating as much I would have liked too. There are only good things on the horizon though. I go on holiday to Goa next monday with my friend Nikki and a few other girls. Should be great. I am also booked up to go back to Scrap-A-Ganza in holland again with my mum. I also have a little weekend break with my boyfriend planned. And another all expenses paid trip out with work too for an indian in Rusholme!

Anyway I think thats enough babbling on for now! I shall try and pop on more often. I do have a great photo of a sign i saw on sunday but i haven't uploaded them yet.

Insert Your Own Random - Part 3

2007-02-27T12:50:00.000Z

"When I said watch that she doesnt crawl away, I didn't mean that!"

Come on, you know how it works now, leave your own caption for the random photo above!

This or That?

2007-02-22T17:08:00.000Z

OK so I found another list of questions to answer, but this time they are all this or that questions. There are only 14 so its not too long! Here we go:

1. Christmas or New Year?
I got to say Christmas for this one, I just love the build up and the giving gifts and spending time with my family. Christmas has got to be my favourite time of year. Ever.

2. Cats or Dogs?
I suppose I am more of a cat person, most people in my family have cats.

3. Silver or Gold?
Got to be Silver for me, or white gold, I just can't get away with gold.

4. Surprises or Arrangements?
Surprises, I just love the idea of not knowing. I also love to do surprises on other people.

5. Icecream or Custard?
Ohhhh good one, If its with cake its got to be custard, theres just nothing better. But if its just sat at home its got to be icecream, Ben & Jerries Chunkey Monkey flavour of course. Yum yum.

6. Flowers or Chocolates?
Hmmm, flowers I suppose. But it would have to be lillies or orchids. What can I say, I have expensive taste!

7. Boys or Girls?
Boys, Most of my friends are boys, I just seem to get along with them better!

8. New Shoes or New Clothes?
Shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, erm.....can you tell I love shoes???

9. Hot Free Summer Days or Cosy Warm Winter Nights?
Ooooo, another good one. I think it would have to be hot summer days with a group of friends otherwise it would have to be cosy nights in with my man.

10. Shower or Bath?
Definately got to be a bath, with lots of bubbles and candles and music! I spend hours in the bath!

11. Text Message or Phone Call?
Phone call, its so nice to hear peoples voices.

12. Batman or Superman?
Batman, just look at his cool car!!!

13. Tea or Coffee?
None! I don't drink caffine so it would have to be a hot chocolate for me!

14. Music or Silence?
Got to be music!

Big up antibiotics!!! (and I name drop a few stars)

2007-02-20T16:07:00.000Z

Well, what a week I have had. I got tonsilitis on Wednesday, which was great for my Valentines Night I can tell you!!! I was off work for 3 days untill the antibiotics kicked in. I have never had tonsilitis before and it freaked me out because instead of my throat being sore, it was more into my left ear! I could eat at all, and I spent most of the time asleep. However Friday afternoon saw the antibiotics kick in. What fabulous things they are too. Yeah ok, so they are huge and they taste minging but they are truely a wonder drug. I would just like to dedicate this blog to antibiotics, it is because of them that I am alive today to write this blog!

ok maybe a bit over the top but they are fab!

I recovered in time to go to the trade show in Birmingham NEC with my mum and my sister. Had great fun doing all the classes and playing with all the latest tools. Got lots of freebies too. Also got chatting to Heidi from Scrapbook Mate again, she soooooo wants me, my mum and my sister to go back to Scrap-a-Ganza this year. We first met her over there, along with Mr & Mrs Bazzil and Mr Rusty Pickle and Becks Fagg, to name drop just a few. We had such a great time over there and of course that is where I won my All My Memories pink luggage set. We met Mr & Mrs Bazzil's Daughter last weekend, and got to see Tim Holtz too.

Anyway we were talking to Heidi on the Scrapbook Mate stall and she collared me again in the halls asking if I was definately going to go. My sister thinks its hillarious that the designers know us (basically cos we were the loud ones at Scrap-a-Ganza) and that they come over to talk to us.

So......I now present myself as.........

*drum roll please*

Friend of Scrapbooking Royalty! hehe

Insert Your Own Random - Part 2

2007-02-12T12:33:00.000Z

OK this weeks caption competition is for the above photo, kindly donated by Scrapdragon (thanks mam). Here is my attempt, rubbish I know. Think you can do better? Give it a go!

'OK people, lights, camera, action, ................ ok now give us your meanest p*ssed off look.........perfect!'

Let it snow!

2007-02-08T12:16:00.000Z

Yes, thats right, the day after I buy a convertable we get severe weather warnings for snow. Typical! Although I can't complain too much as it is only a sprinkling. Not the 6" we were promised! Thought I would share a picture of our office carpark showing the 'mountains' of snow we have had. In any luck, it will all be gone by Saturday when I get to pick up my car. I then get the pleasure of driving it down to Birmingham to go see my man. Nice little trip out in my new car!

Check out my new car!!!

2007-02-07T12:09:00.000Z

Isn't she gorgeous? For those of you who aren't petrol heads its a Mazda MX-5 1.8i Special Edition Phoenix Convertable. Stunning! Titan grey with Saddle leather upholstery. Fitted with five spoke alloy wheels and heated seats, it really is a good specimen. And to drive, oh, its like heaven. So responsive and it sticks to the road like anything.

Only now I have to wait till I can pick it up before I can drive it again!

Won't be long now, bring on the summer!

Insert Your Own Random - Part 1

2007-02-04T10:12:00.000Z

OK guys, this random photo of random people really made me giggle and I don't quite know why! So, what I would like you to do is post a comment with your caption for the photo, it could be funny, random or sick! Go for it! Here's my attempt:

"You may have a huge knife and blood all over you, but I'm just not frightened of you with that hair!"

Bliss, absolute bliss!

2007-02-01T19:33:00.000Z

Me and my sister paid a visit to our local aquatics centre last night to use their spa facilities. What can I say? Pure bliss! Sauna and steam room and jacuzzi and sugar rub and moisture mask! WOW!!! My skin is soooo soft today! I think we shall have to make it a weekly event!

Mind you, it seemed like we were the only females in there, it was full of blokes!

And I can't have looked very good in my bikini with the huge bruise I have on my leg. Oh I forgot to tell you about that didn't I? It happened on Friday in the Comedy Club. It was dark and I was trying to make it back to my seat before the show started again and I managed to walk full force into something. I thought nothing of it that night and continued to enjoy the free bar and comedy. Next morning I wake up with a completely dead leg and a huge lump and bruise. Now I always used to laugh at the footballers who claimed a dead leg as an injury, stoopid boys, a dead leg goes in an hour at most. Nooooooooo, how wrong I was. I have had pins and needles throughout my whole leg all week. Never mind eh? I'm sure I'll get over it!

Right plans for the weekend include going to the pictures on Friday, then on Saturday I am going to look at a new car. I am bored with my car. There is nothing wrong with it, in fact its a perfectly reliable, sensible, new car, but its BORING!!! I am going to look at a Mazda MX-5. Mmmmmm now thats a car!

Off to dream dreams of MX-5's!
xx

And now, the time has come...

2007-01-28T13:36:00.000Z

*stands up*

Well, it finally happened, the time has come, I have reached a milestone in my life that everyone has to go through! It is a bit late in life, at 24 most people will have passed this milestone a long time ago! Well I am holding my hands up, confessing to you all. Before Saturday, I had never passed this milestone in life. Slightly ashamed of being stuck in my old ways, I gave up and succumbed.

Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I bought my first pair of jeans! (I can hear the sharp intake of breath) I know, I know, 24 years old! I have done it now though, I am no longer left out! I now own a beautiful pair of Miss 60 jeans! And I managed to get £50 off them too!

I also bought a new pair of shoes, wedges, in pale pink and the wedge bit is covered in layers and layers of ric rak! they are soooo cute! And a total bargain at £6.

Anyway confession over, I feel slightly better for admitting it!

*sits back down*

Random Monkey!

2007-01-23T08:31:00.000Z

Check this out: http://www.weebl.jolt.co.uk/anywhere.htm

Its so beautifully, fantastically, amazingly random that I am shocked it has been missing from my life all these years! Thank you!

It's finally here!

2007-01-22T08:57:00.000Z

My Nintendo DS Lite arrived this morning! I am so gonna be up all night playing it! I'm so excited but also it is just sat on my desk at work and i can't play with it till I go home! How rubbish is that?

Oh and I was supposed to be hosting an Anne Summers party on Saturday night but so many people have pulled out I shall have to rearrange it for another night. Never mind eh? I still have my night out on Friday at the Rawhide Comedy Club in Liverpool. All expences paid by my company! Can't be bad! It's our Christmas party, at the end of January!

Animal Crossings, here I come!!!

Getting to know me!

2007-01-18T13:03:00.000Z

I enjoyed doing this!!! Fill it in and post it back as either a blog or a bulletin, it takes a while but it’s a laugh.

Welcome to the 2007 edition of getting to know your friends. These are my answers, change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to a whole bunch of people including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends, if you did not know them already.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
My alarm went off at 6:30 and then again at seven when I decided to brave the cold, wet and windy morning.

2. What did you have to eat last night?
Chocolates and cocktails!

3. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds, definitely! I don't think I'm classy enough for pearls!

4. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Nightmare Before Christmas 3D at the IMAX in the Printworks. Classic Tim Burton.

5. What is your favourite TV show?
Erm ... I don't really have one at the minute. But maybe that’s because I have poor TV! No extra channels, and not even channel 5 upstairs!

6. What did you have for breakfast?
A mug of hot chocolate and a few chocolate hobnobs when I got into the office, healthy eh?

7. What is your middle name?
I haven’t got one!

8. What's your date of birth?
1st October 1982

9. What is your favourite cuisine?
Italian definitely, pizza and pasta!

10. What foods do you dislike?
I'm kinda fussy so there are loads of foods I don't like! The worst would have to be sweetcorn! It looks like teeth!

11. What is your favourite Crisp?
I don't really eat crisps that often, I do like quavers on the odd occasion though!

12. What is your favourite CD at the moment?
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP, its an old one but it has all the classics on it.

13. What kind of car do you drive?
Black Honda Jazz SE (don't laugh...Jeremy Clarksons mum loved it!!!)

14. What is you favourite sandwich?
Ham and Cheese Panini with fresh mixed peppers, yum yum!

15. What characteristics do you despise?
People who lie or think they are better than anyone else!

16. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Ireland! I would love to go see Giants Causeway.

17. What colour is your bathroom?
White

18. What is your favourite brand of clothing?
I don't really have one, I like Jane Norman and if I could afford it, it would have to be Karen Millen all the way!

19. Where would you want to retire?
I’m not sure really, somewhere relaxing, maybe Scotland, the scenery up there is gorgeous!

20. Favourite time of day?
Just before bedtime, all snuggled up on the sofa!

21. Where were you born?
Camerons Baby Hospital, Hartlepool

22. What is your favourite sport to watch?
I like watching the football and the F1 and (here's the girly one!) ice-skating! Their costumes are so pretty! No, seriously I like watching pretty much any fast paced and that required skill.

23. Coke or Pepsi?
None they both taste like pennies!

24. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
A bit of both really, sometimes I'm good on a morning and other times I'm up all night!

25. What size shoe do you wear?
Iccle baby 5’s

26. Do you have pets?
Nope, I live in a rental at the minute and they are not allowed. I might get a couple of Siamese kittens when I get my own place.

27. What did you want to be when you were little?
An engineer! I'm a saddo aren't I?

28. Favourite Chocolate Bar?
It used to be the Boost but before they started putting the energy stuff in it, now I would have to say a Green and Blacks Maya Gold!!!

29. What is your best childhood memory?
Staying up late and making loads of noise so my mum would shout at me and my sister! Then recording her shouting and playing it back to her immediately! She couldn't shout for laughing!

30. What are the different jobs you have had in your life?
I worked in a hair shop for about 2 months, then I started an apprenticeship as a civil engineer with a company called West’s. I was there for seven years before I moved to Manchester and joined WA.

31. What are you wearing right now?
Grey pencil skirt, black jumper and black shoes, pretty standard office wear!

32. What are your nicknames?
Mush!

33. Do you have any piercing’s?
Yes I have 3, 1 in each ear and 1 in my belly button!

34. Eye colour?
Anything from blue to green to grey depending on my mood!

35. Have you ever been to Africa?
Nope! I would like to go one day though!

36. Have you ever loved someone so much it made you cry?
Unfortunately yes!

37. Have you ever been in a car accident?
Nope! I'm a very good driver!

38. Croutons or bacon bits?
Depends on what with! I would want croutons in my soup but bacon bits on my potato skins!

39. Favourite day of the week?
Friday!

40. Favourite restaurant?
I don't really have one; I have not explored Manchester enough to find some. I do like the rice bar in Piccadilly though!

41. Favourite flower?
Black Calla Lilies!

42. Favourite ice cream?
Ben & Jerrys Chunky Monkey flavour! Obviously!

43. Disney or Warner Bro's?
What's the difference?

44. Favourite fast food restaurant?
Erm...rice bar!

45. What colour is your bedroom?
I am in a rental property and it is cream!

46. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
1!

47. From whom did you get your last e-mail?
My friend Andy from up north.

48. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
I don't think I would ever do this, but I would be very tempted in Karen Millen or Faith!

49. What do you do most often when you are bored?
Either lay in the bath for hours on end or go to bed!

50 Bedtime?
Around 10 pm to 11 pm

51. Who are you most curious about their responses to this Questionnaire?
Everyone really

52. Last person you went to dinner with?
A whole company full of people at my company ball. Actually no, I went for Sunday Lunch with my sister the day after.

53. What are you listening to right now?
Just background office noise and the wind howling!

54. What is your favourite colour?
I go through phases! I like purple but I think I am going into a red stage! And always black!

55. Lake, Ocean or River?
Lake, so calm and peaceful!

56. How many tattoos do you have?
None, I'm too much of a wimp! I do keep thinking about getting one though, think I would need some one to hold my hand!

57. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Neither...they slowly evolved according to Darwin!

58. How many people are you sending this e-mail to?
I’m not, I’m butting it into my blog for people to copy and re-blog!

59. What is the time right now?
12.44pm

60. What are you getting for Christmas?
Christmas? Its only January! Christmas isn’t about presents, as long as I get to spend it with my family I am happy.

61. What do you like better, eating or sleeping?
Definitely eating! You can sleep when you are dead!

62. How many sisters/brothers do you have?
I have an older sister Lyndsey and a younger brother Craig.

63. What is your favourite random word?
MONKEY!

64. What is your favourite part of your body?
My eyes I think, or my back!

65. What do you first notice about a member of the opposite sex?
Eyes and hands!

Whats your fairy name?

2007-01-18T11:41:00.001Z

http://www.emmadavies.net/fairy/

My fairy is called Columbine Icefly.
She is a bone chilling bringer of justice for the vulnerable.
She lives in mushroom fields and quiet meadows.
She is only seen at midday under a quiet, cloudless sky.
She wears lilac and purple like columbine flowers. She has icy bluebutterfly wings.

Bring it on...

2007-01-18T08:48:00.000Z

I finally got too bored of not having a life and not having any friends to go out and play with so yesterday I ordered myself a Nintendo DS Lite! So, even though I will still be a saddo with no friends and no life, at least I can have fun playing Animal Crossings sat in by myself!

WOO HOO! (homer styley)

I shall go to the ball...

2007-01-15T16:36:00.000Z

Well what a weekend that was. Lots of things to make me smile, laugh and seriously nearly wet myself. Also a few things that maybe shouldn't have happened but I will get to them later! First of all, just so you can all stop worrying about me, the cold has gone! I beat it YEAY!

OK so Friday night for me saw me go home to a house full of workmen, supposedly fixing the leak in the bath. I went upstairs to the bathroom to see that they had re-clad the whole bathroom in white panels. Beautiful, really nice and clean surfaces and all looking nice and new. The conversation went something like this:

Workman: "There you go luv, should be no more leaks through that little lot."

Me: "Oh it looks lovely but its still going to leak!"

Workman: "WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!"

Me: "Well its the waste pipe on the bath that is leaking, not the seals round the edge!"

Workman: "Bloody hell, we've been here for nearly 2 flamin' days puttin' this little lot up, you mean to say we have to come back on Monday and take it out to get under the bath?"

LOL you should have seen the look on their faces! Not happy workmen! Still, I have been telling them for weeks that it was the waste pipe that was leaking, stoopid boys don't believe me though!

Ok onto Saturday! Saturday for me was getting up early to go into town with my sis, who I hadnt seen for nearly 2 weeks! We needed to find me a wrap to go with my dress for the Ball. We did pretty well really. Although we did have a whinge about the way shops organise their products. Its just about to kick into winter and they have all their summer ranges in! Do they not realise that the seasons are changing? Grrr

Anyway after that I had an appointment at the hairdressers to get some lowlights and root highlights. I'm really pleased with the colour actually. Its the closest I have been to my natural for a very long time! After that i went for a large hot chocolate and a banana muffin from starbucks while I waited for my friend Paul to come meet me. I sat in the window just watching the world pass by, was quite relaxing actually. After that we go to mine and Jakers comes round and I make us some dinner before we set off for Warwickshire and the Ball.

The ball was great! We arrive to a champagne reception and we have to get our pictures taken by a photographer. We then are taken to the bar where we have our first drinks before being seated for our meals. The food was a bit fancy for my liking, but the bits I had were very nice. We then had a bit of "caberet" if you can call it that! And then a bit of a dance with lots more drinking!

Now I know your all thinking 'get to the bit that shouldnt have happened!' well here it is! We all get onto the bus to take us back to the hotel and one of the managers ends up hitting my manager in the nose! Fabulous! The hotel is about 3 minutes away and it all kicks off at the front of the bus! Blood everywhere! Never mind, it has given us all something to talk about in the office today!

Anyway the next day we get up and get breakfast and check out of our room, all the time phoning Paul (he was staying in a different hotel) to say when we would pick him up. No answer from his mobile, so we arrive at the hotel and reception tried phoning a couple of times. We then go up and knock on his door for about 3 minutes before we heard a grunt! Poor love was still soooooo drunk. We had to help him stagger to the car where he kept me and jakers amused all the way home! He was hilarious!

Right well I have rambled on enough I think! Time to go home!

Byeeeee
xx

Brrrrr!

2007-01-12T11:23:00.000Z

Oh no, I seem to have cursed myself on the cold front. I was just saying to someone at work the other day that I hadn't had a cold for about 5 years and now guess what! Yep, I have a cold! I feel rubbish! Never mind, I have been trying out all the standard tricks (including stuffing myself with food as you are supposed to feed a cold!).

Just hope I start to feel a bit better for my ball on saturday!

Photographs

2007-01-04T15:01:00.000Z

http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/24655957@N00/

Just set up my new Flickr site with all my new years eve photographs on. Go check them out!

We started the night at my sisters making cocktails and shooters at about 5 in the afternoon, we then went to our friends Jon & Kats for a few more drinks and a natter before we went our seperate ways and they went to Sankeys and we went to Warehouse. Was a top night with great music and we stayed there till about 2 ish before going back to Jon & Kats to drink more and keep dancing. I needed my bed at half five so i left them to it and got a taxi home!

What a way to bring in the new year!

Weekend Offerings!

2006-12-22T11:16:00.003Z

Well, what have I been up to this weekend? Not a lot, I can tell you. I can tell you that I did spend 3 hours in the bath on Friday night chatting to my friend Anth up north. He always seems to catch me in the bath. Tut tut.

Anyway I had to go find a dress for the ball I invited myself to next saturday! I really thought it was going to be a nightmare but it didn't take to long at all. We (me and my friend Kat) started off in Monsoon which have a 50% sale on, so I tried on about 7 dresses and none of them did anything for me. So on to the next shop then which happened to be Warehouse. Not much happening in there apart from a really nasty smell! Eugh! Anyway we decided to try TK Maxx next but on the way we walked past Oasis and I saw this dress. What can I say, I just had to buy it!

Then as the guy I asked out for a few drinks on Saturday night didn't bother texting me back I sat in my PJ's watching Soapstar Superstar (which is soooo cheesy its great) and then I got a phone call from my little brothers fiance, Ellen. She asked if I wanted to be her bridesmaid! OMG! I nearly cried. They are planning on getting married next August. WOW! So this morning I got up and started altering a book I have for her to use as a wedding book. Hope she likes it!

Christmas Presents - Part 4!

2006-12-22T11:16:00.000Z

Hiya, well I finally got round to finishing some more Christmas presents and thought I would share some pictures with you. The first is a vase/candle holder for my nana. I really like the way this one turned out!

The next Christmas present is for my sister. Its a tin to store her tarot cards in. I asked her to choose her favourite tarot cards and scan them in and print them out. She gave me 6 cards and they were all yellows and blues. I decided to go with a green background to blend the two colours together. But the tin was bright white, so i used a green ink pad and stamped all over the tin and rubbed it in till it was a mottled green effect and no longer shiney white.

Anyway that's it for now, just my grandas to finish. I will post pics when i have finished that one. Take care everyone.

xx

Barbie's Christmas List

2006-12-13T09:04:00.000Z

Dear Santa,

Listen here, I've been helping you out every year, playing at being the perfect Christmas Present, wearing skimpy bathing suits in frigid weather, and drowning in fake tea from one too many tea parties, and I hate to break it to ya Santa, but IT'S DEFINITELY PAY BACK TIME! There had better be some changes around here this Christmas, or I'm gonna call for a nationwide meltdown (and trust me, you won't wanna be around to smell it). So, here's my holiday wish list for Christmas 2006. . .

1) A nice, comfy pair of sweat pants and a frumpy, oversized sweatshirt. I'm sick of looking like a hooker. How much smaller are these bathing suits gonna get? Do you have any idea what it feels like to have Nylon and Velcro up your butt?

2) Real underwear that can be pulled on and off. Preferably white. What bonehead at Mattel decided to cheap out and MOLD imitation underwear to my skin?!? It looks like cellulite!

3) A REAL man. Hey, maybe GI JOE . Hell, I'd take Tickle-Me-Elmo over that wimped out excuse for a boy toy Ken. And what's with that earring anyway? If I'm gonna have to suffer with him, at least make him (and me) anatomically correct.

4) Arms that actually bend, so I can push the aforementioned Ken-wimp away once he is anatomically correct.

5) Breast reduction surgery. I don't care whose arm you have to twist, just get it done.

6) A jog-bra to wear until I get the surgery.

7) A new career. Pet doctor and school teacher just don't cut it. How about a systems analyst? Or better yet, a public relations senior account exec!

8) A new, more up to date persona. Maybe "PMS Barbie", complete with a mini container of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and a bag of chips; "Animal Rights Barbie", with my very own paint gun, fitted with a fake fur coat, bottle of spray on blood and handcuffs; or "Stop Smoking Barbie," sporting a Nicotrol patch and equipped with several packs of gum.

9) No more McDonald's endorsements. The grease is wrecking my vinyl.

10) Mattel stock options. It's been 37 years - I think I deserve it.

Okay Santa, that's it. Considering my valuable contribution to society, I don't think these requests are out of line. If you disagree, then you can find yourself a new girl for next Christmas. It's just that simple.

Love,

Barbie

Christmas Plans!

2006-12-12T08:24:00.000Z

Hi people! I have settled on this layout of my blog for now, I have decided to concentrate more on it in the new year when I have some spare time. I'm just really busy at the minute. I have lots of nights out planned and friends coming to stay. Plus on top of that i have lots of Christmas presents still to make. ARGH - when am i going to find the time???

Well its my works night out on Thursday, free drinks and a hotel room booked so I will be pretty smashed. Then on Friday I am going over to my friend Kat's to help her get ready for her works night out. Then as it was supposed to be the day I was going to get marrried, I am going to get dressed up and celebrate my single freedom! I am planning on sitting in Revolution Vodka Bar and sampling every single one of their cocktails!

I have 2 of my friends, Nikki and Ian, coming over to visit on Saturday. We are going to do a bit of shopping and then go on a night out round Manchester centre. I will be well ready for my week off from work next week! But I can't spend all my time recovering from that I have Christmas presents to make!

Anyway, back to work I suppose. Catch you all later!

xx

New Look!

2006-12-06T09:57:00.000Z

Just a little note to let you know what is going on! I have decided to give my blog a face lift and I will be messing around, sorry "updating" the look of it, over the next couple of days! Please bear with my whilst I try to turn it from pink to blue! I am going on a nice pale blue colour I think!

Christmas Presents - Part 3!

2006-12-05T19:34:00.000Z

Thought i would share the pictures of my mums Christmas Present! I'm really pleased with the way this one turned out! I kept it quite simple with plain cardstock and ribbon. The chip board letters have been Mod Podged to give them a shine and the keys were from a scrap merchant!

The poem reads:

Life holds many doors. Some are open and some are closed. Some need keys to open. Some doors have ornate handles and stained glass windows. In life we strive to open these fancy doors, leaving the plain ones behind, when in truth, the plain ones hold the best treasure:
Love, Family & Friends

Christmas Presents - Part 2!

2006-11-17T22:06:00.000Z

Hello people! Thought I would share some pictures of the Christmas presents I have been making for people. The bag box thing is for my sister in law Ellen and I have used Cherry Artes paper, Scenic Routes rub-ons, Prima blossoms and some Heidi Swapp flower centres! Oh and some ribbons kindly donated by Ang and Maz! Thanks Guys! Then I mod podged the whole thing!

The pencil case is for my niece Amy-Leigh. The paper doesn't have a name on it so I'm not sure what it is, I got it from Scrap-a-Ganza. I have also used some Bazzil and Prima blossoms and the Heidi Swapp centres. The ribbon was a RAK from Christine, Thanks!

New Hair!

2006-10-30T08:43:00.000Z

OK i really dont like pictures of myself so this is going to be the last few you see of me for a while! But here it is, me as a blonde:

Christmas Presents - Part 1!

2006-10-25T08:30:00.000Z

Hiya people, after requests from a number of people I have finally got round to uploading some pictures of the jewellery I made on sunday! They are Christmas presents for the female members of my family!

This is a green one that i did for my mum, I just love the centre bead on the necklace, the photographs are rubbish too! sorry! In real life the cenre bead catches the light and is just stunning!

This one is a pink set that i did for my neice, the colour is gorgeous, very soft!

This one is a purple one that I did for my sister in law! I also made one for my sister but it wont let me upload that photo for some random reason!

Anyway, thats what I made, let me know what you think!

Promises, Promises ...

2006-10-09T15:19:00.000Z

I promise i will update on this more often when i get a laptop sorted! I'm lost without it!

Bad News!

2006-09-27T11:33:00.000Z

Haven't been on in while, because my laptop was stolen! :(

Plus I am moving into a new place on Friday so I will be busy over the next couple of weeks! Its my Birthday this weekend and I am going back to Hartlepool to see my mum and dad and go out for a few drinks! Me and mum are doing a craft fair up in Sunderland on sunday too so that should be fun!

I cant believe I'm going to be 24 on Sunday! How old is that?

Hello and Welcome!

2006-09-16T19:54:00.000Z

Well, this is my first blog! Hello to all those Random Concrete Monkey enthusiasts, sorry to disappoint you! There aren't actually any random concrete monkeys on here! Appart from me I suppose!

Where do I start? My name is Michelle and I like all things random! I am also originally from Hartlepool and my favourite word is monkey. So where does the concrete come in I hear you all ask! I am also a civil engineer and I like designing concrete!

So what have I done today? Right! This morning I was in Hartlepool visiting my mum and dad but I set off to get back into Manchester (which is where I am living now) because I had a hair appointment at half nine! Which means I had to set off at 7 this morning! Still it was a clear run and only took me 2 hours which is not too bad! Anyway, I had my hair done and then came back home!

My sister and her husband are at a wedding tonight so I was home alone. I had some cards to make for a few friends birthdays and new houses and things. So here is what i have made:

I made this one for our friend Kat! It is her Birthday today but we are going out for Sunday Lunch to the Friendship tomorrow! I also made this one for my sister as she was at the wedding all day:

We have also got her a big bottle of Bombay Saphire because everytime we go to hers we end up drinking it all! I also made a birthday card for my friend Lee who lives up in Hartlepool! It's his birthday on the 23rd September!

Anyway, so tonight I have made those cards (I am going to leave the other ones to another night!). I am also watching Saturday night TV, which includes X-Factor, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and Afterlifes new series! Which is just fantastic! I've had a pizza for tea and I'm just sipping some Archers and lemonade!

Thats it for today! Bye!